Released by Him [Dark Temptation Book Two]

Chapter 1

Venus

“No…”

This was just a nightmare.

“Don’t go, please…”

A terrible nightmare.

“Don’t leave me.”

No matter how hard I moved his body. No matter how many screams I had vomited. No matter how many tears had poured from my eyes. Grant was not moving. He was not moving anymore. His life had flown away towards Heaven. Leaving me in the dark world. Leaving me alone to face my fate. My unwanted fate. 

Because of my cursed blood.

Because of my damned existence.

Because of my condemned birth.

I was not supposed to be here.

Grant could live peacefully.

“I’m so sorry, Grant. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I slumped my temple to his bloody chest. Hoping the blood would soon cover me, taking me together with the man of my life. 

I meant nothing without Grant around. 

I could live because of him. 

I could face my blasted fate because of him.

Now he was gone – I had nothing.

The heavy and slow footsteps approaching. Opening my eyes. Focusing on the steps. The sound of the ruffled leaves. The feeling of his existence. The air became heavy. My breath stuck. 

I didn’t need to look to know who was in front of me. 

I didn’t need to say his name to know who he was.

I only said, “You should have just killed me.”

“You know that’s never going to happen.”

“I won’t do it.”

“You never have the chance,” he countered.

I chuckled dryly. “Are you just like me? Your fate has been written by the stars and you have no choice but to follow it?” He fell silent. “Is Grant’s death in the prophecy too?” Again, no answer. “I hate you.”

“Your feeling doesn’t matter to me, Venus. I want you, that’s it.” 

His footsteps were coming closer. This time, he was standing right in front of me. I refused to look at him. 

Squeezing myself closer to Grant as I felt his cold hand on my head. I immediately snapped it away, only being caught by him. I still refused to look at him. I knew exactly what I would find once I set my eyes on him. On his beautiful yet cold hazel-green eyes. “Venus, look at me.” I shook my head. “Venus.” His tone was full of warning. But, do I care? No. I shook my head again. “You never change. Always a stubborn woman.”

“If you wanted a decent one, you should look for new prey. I’m sure you will find one in your Den,” I sarcastically suggested. 

He chuckled, feeling amused. “How valiant.” 

He surprised me by harshly pulling me. Making me came face to face with the devil. Meeting his disturbingly intense hazel orbs. Steely dark gems yet shone brightly under the moon. The pair of eyes I used to love. Not until he decided to break my trust and destroyed me. 

“Don’t make me do this, Venus,” he threatened again.

“Do what?” and I stupidly challenged him.

“You know what I’m talking about.” His minty breath warmed up my lips. His woody perfume infiltrated my nose. Completely covering my entire body with him. With his dark yet cunningly beautiful figure. “Venus,” he whispered. “Do you remember what we used to have before all this?” How could I forget? Those were…the most beautiful moments we had together. 

“I remember, but it was you who destroyed them. You destroyed us.”

He shook his head slowly. “You don’t remember.”

“I am, Micah!” I pushed him hard. Weirdly feeling empty without him around me. “You destroyed me! Wrecked me completely. I’m not just broken anymore, Micah, I’m ruined. And no one could put the pieces back together.”

Tears once again gushed out of my eyes. “Venus—”

“Just go away. Please…” Closing my ears tightly, I screamed, “Go away!” 

Slowly, I could feel myself ruptured. 

My heart clenched. 

Somebody, please save me.

…Weak…

“What?”

…You’re weak…

I slowly pulled my hands from my ears. 

…Pathetic…

I looked to the front, finding Micah was not there anymore as well as Grant. 

Looking around, I was alone now. In a complete dark. The weak word kept echoing around me, making me panic. “W-Who’s there?” No answer.

No. No. No. No. No.

I didn’t want to be here.

Not here.

I shut my eyes tightly and crouched. “You’re really weak.” And I heard the voice clearly right in front of me. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw legs. From the knees, she was covered with a gown. Like a sleeping gown. I lifted my head until I saw her face. My own face. Smiling wickedly at me. The same face. The same eyes. Me. “A weak person like you deserves to go,” she stated and her eyes changed color into red and she grabbed my neck tightly. Pushing me to the ground. “You deserve to die, you little bitch.” The hold became tighter, blocking my breathing, obstructing my voice. 

I’m going to die!

I couldn’t hold back anymore as I rolled my eyes back, welcoming the darkness.

“No!” I screamed while pushing my body forward. 

The door immediately opened as Nathan ran in with Auntie Feli behind him. “Venus.” He immediately went to my side as I tried to adjust my breathing. His hand on my back, helping me with the breath. “It’s okay, Venus. Just breathe in slowly. Just like that.” I tried to focus on his voice. Following his voice. “It’s okay, girl. It’s just a dream. You are okay. Jesus, you’re sweating a lot.”

“I’ll get some water and a towel,” Auntie Feli said and I heard her walking out of my room. 

“Thank you, Aunt.” I flicked my eyes to Nathan. “I’m sorry for waking you up again.”

He smiled. “Don’t worry about it.” He wiped my sweats with his bigger hand. “The same nightmare again?”

“Yes.”

“Did Micah do the same thing again?”

My breath stuck. “No.” His golden eyes found me, looking worried and confused. “It wasn’t…Micah who hurt me. It was…someone else. Me.”

Nathan frowned. “You?”

“Yes. It was me who hurt me. She choked me to death, saying I was weak, pathetic, and deserved to die. I was scared, Nathan. So much. I was alone in the dark. Nobody was there. Not even you or Auntie Feli. Micah was there too and then he disappeared on me. I was…so scared.”

“Hey, shh. Come here.” He brought me to his hold. I landed my temple on his warm chest. “You have nothing to be scared of. I’m here to protect you. I know it’s hard to forget the past and maybe you will never forget about it either. But I’ve promised to always by your side.”

“I know you are, Nathan.” I wrapped my hands around his back.

It’d been six months since I left Micah. Six months since I got my memories back. And a year after Grant’s death. 

Six months after we went into hiding, I never heard anything about Micah, almost like he was never there. I only met him through dreams. He was following me there. Breaking in to not make me forget about him. 

He refused to let me go.

He didn’t want to let me go.

Micah still wanted me. To own me. To possess me. 

Because I served a purpose to Micah.

To be his bride and produce a miracle baby. There was nothing miracle if I was consummated with Micah. Only destruction awaited.

The door was opened again as Auntie Feli returned. I pushed myself from Nathan as I accepted the glass of water from my aunt. Slowly drinking the warm water, calming me down. She sat down. “Venus, dear? I know this is not the right time, but would you like to go out?”

“The f**k, Felicia?” Nathan immediately disagreed with her question.

“Let me explain, boy. I know we shouldn’t let Venus out but maybe she needs fresh air. You will be there to protect her too. Just one or two hours would suffice. For Venus’ sake.”

Yes, ever since we went into hiding, I never got out of the cottage. I only went as far until the river and that was close to the house. Nathan’s barrier only covered a few radiuses, enough for me to walk around outside. But not until the town. It all thanks to his barrier that we could live peacefully without Micah bothering our lives. 

And I wanted to stay that way.

I didn’t want to get involved with Micah anymore. 

You don’t remember.

Micah’s words from the dream echoed in my mind. I didn’t remember? Which part? I had gained my memories back and I was positive that we were never got involved. The only boyfriend I had was Grant. The only man I loved was Grant. Micah was trying to play tricks on my mind. Just like how he played mine when I lost my memories. He controlled my head and my body. 

Clenching my eyes tightly before I opened them to face my family. “I’m fine. Thank you, Auntie Feli for thinking about me. But it’s not safe. At least for now.” Or maybe forever. As long Micah was out there, looking for me, I was nowhere safe. And he would keep looking for me until the day I died. If I died, I had to do it very quietly so Micah won’t do anything stupid like reviving from the dead which I think he could do. “I should go back to sleep.”

“Okay, sweetheart.” Auntie Feli stood up and kissed my forehead. “Good night, Venus.”

“Good night.”

Nathan helped me lay down my body and he gorgeously smiled. “You will have a great day tomorrow.”

I returned the smile. “I can’t wait.” Those were like the magic words in my mind. You will have a great day tomorrow. Nathan was trying to make me enjoyed the days I would spend and I was so grateful for that. 

He kissed my forehead too. “Good night, my Morning Star.” He stood up and left the room. 

Even when I closed my eyes, somehow, I could feel him standing in the corner watching over me without any intention to wake me up. And I could listen to his voice whispering my name…lovingly.

…Venus, baby…